Being the face of an NBA franchise isn’t a bed of roses. The upper management has the task of delivering every year, making moves behind the scenes that ensure the team’s success. Otherwise, they face the abundant wrath of basketball fans everywhere. Jeanie Buss knew what she was getting into when she inherited the Los Angeles Lakers from her father, Jerry Buss, after he died in 2013. So did Rob Pelinka when he signed on as Lakers GM back in 2017.

The duo certainly won over the majority of the NBA community after signing LeBron James. However, over the years, they have faced scrutiny for failing to get the team far in the playoffs. On top of that, some reportedly controversial hires and alleged poor decision-making in player personnel did not win them any additional love. Fortunately, just like Marvel, they made a few big moves that instantly caused people to go from shouting curses to claiming ‘They’re Back’.

JJ Redick Differentiated Himself from Rob Pelinka

How many of us doubted JJ Redick when he was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers? Those who did had a very good reason behind it. After all, the now 40-year-old had no experience in coaching at any level of basketball. What he did have, however, was 15 years of experience as an NBA player. More importantly, he had a good rapport with LeBron James, with the duo having served as hosts of their podcast ‘Mind the Game’.

If something was needed after Darvin Ham, it was a coach who the Lakers star player could hold in high regard. After all, it was no secret that LeBron wasn’t a big fan of the previous HC. Lakers Daily’s Andrew Irvin once revealed how the veteran would sit in a huddle with his teammates when Ham would give instructions. As he spoke, Bron would occasionally “roll his eyes”. Once Ham was done, the player would then get up, exclaim “f— all that” to his teammates, and give out his own set of instructions.

The rookie coach was eventually hired by the Lakers under a 4-year, $32 million contract.

As it turned out, JJ Redick’s hiring wasn’t just beneficial for LeBron James. It benefitted the team as a whole. In the two seasons that Darvin Ham coached, he drew criticism for making slow in-game adjustments last season. At one point, the Lakers allowed Dante Exum to make seven mostly uncontested 3-pointers during a game against the Dallas Mavericks. While the win record under him wasn’t as bad as the 2021-22 season, the Lakers still went 43-39 and 47-35. On top of that, other players publicly spoke out against Ham.

During media day back in December 2024, D’Angelo Russell said that the Lakers didn’t have a “defensive structure.” Anthony Davis had claimed in April 2024 that “We have stretches where we don’t know what we’re doing on both ends of the floor.”

Now, both the win record and the mood in the locker room have changed. Today, with a 38-21 win record, the Lakers hold the 2 seed on the Western Conference table. Lakers Nation has highlighted Redick’s rapid decision-making, set plays that engage all five players, etc. The 40-year-old has been especially praised for holding himself accountable for losses and being more open with the media.

If you remember, Ham caught strays back in October 2024 after JJ Redick held himself accountable after the Lakers lost a game against the Phoenix Suns.

However, JJ Redick wouldn’t have managed to get the current win record if Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka hadn’t come through with another big decision. A decision that changed the modern NBA in itself.

Rob Pelinka’s Effort to Acquire Luka Doncic Paid Off

Every NBA fan remembers where they were when Shams Charania broke the news of Luka Doncic’s trade. Me, I was working.

In a few days, X users stopped commenting that Charania’s account was hacked. Instead, they started sharing clips of Mavs fans protesting in the streets. After all, why would the Texas franchise get rid of their star player?

Well, when the Mavs GM, Nico Harrison, reportedly approached Pelinka, why would he waste such an opportunity? Mind you, there were still some obstacles in the way.

“Along the way we knew there would be 248 insurmountable snags to get to the end, and there were,” said Pelinka. “And so, over the course of you know, three weeks call it, an issue would come up, and we’d think there was no way to climb the mountain. And we’d figure out a way. Then the next issue would come up, and you just keep going and you keep, you stay committed to the work, you stay committed to trying to get the deal done, in a partnership sense.”

The Slovenian continues holding a 5-year, $215.2 million contract from his Mavs days. And he has $43 million left on his current deal (+ the above-mentioned JJ’s contract. Thus the $75 million.) Luka Doncic joining the Lakers helped to bolster its offensive standing. Plus, it reduced the pressure for the 40-year-old James to always be depended on to deliver. Along with JJ Redick, the Slovenian superstar has already worked to overcome Drop Coverage and other on-court defensive tactics.

Together, JJ Redick and Luka Doncic have transformed the Lakers within a season. On top of that, they have given both Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka some peace of mind. Before Redick and Doncic’s arrival, all one could find on social media was how the two management members were ruining the team. From Homelander memes to the iconic dance scene from ‘Pulp Fiction’, X was filled with jokes about how Buss and Pelinka were ‘ruining LeBron’s legacy.’

Now, Rob Pelinka is reportedly making more public appearances. He even came to Luka Doncic’s Lakers introductory press conference. The call for Jeanie Buss to sell the Lakers has evaporated. They have been replaced with reports of how Luka Doncic’s acquisition can cause increased jersey and ticket sales.

Just when people thought it wasn’t possible, Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka have entered another ‘honeymoon period’—a period of bliss. Something that could have easily slipped if Buss had hesitated.

Jeanie Buss revealed having doubts about bringing JJ Redick and Luka Doncic to the Lakers

Going into the ongoing season, very few had too many expectations for the Los Angeles Lakers. Even LeBron James claimed to not think that the Lakers could go far this year. There was only one reason behind this talk: JJ Redick. After all, could a former ESPN analyst who had never coached lead a team like the LA franchise? That was a question that even Jeanie Buss seems to have asked herself.

“I was worried about hiring a rookie coach,” said Buss during an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “This team is so important to this community, and to bring in a rookie coach that had no experience before, that was a big leap. But I knew that [Redick and Pelinka] would work well together, and I love watching the progress that they’re making.”

As for Luka Doncic’s trade, Buss revealed, “It was really important to me that we didn’t blow up the team. If it had leaked out and the trade hadn’t happened, that would be really unfair to the progress that the coaching staff had made with the team. Because it’s a huge distraction.”

Lo-and-behold! The result of the combination is here for the world to see. Whether it results in the Lakers once again winning the Larry O’Brien trophy is something that remains to be seen.